Lifeguard certification near me is the fourth most popular form of exercise in the United States, with more than 27 million people over the age of six participating in it.
But there are many barriers to participating in swimming. For example, many people only learn to swim later in life, and some people may experience discomfort or fear of water because it is an unfamiliar environment.
Despite these barriers, swimming and  provides several unique health benefits. Some people describe the feeling of being submerged in water as transformative or healing, and many enjoy the anti-gravity aspect of swimming.
There are many documented health benefits associated with swimming that may inspire you to develop your own pool or open water exercise program.
Health benefits of lifeguard certification near meÂ
Participation in any physical activity, especially on a regular basis, can provide health benefits. Regular exercise improves heart health, helps you achieve and maintain a healthy weight, lowers your risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and even lowers your risk of certain cancers.
Exercise can help you develop sharper thinking, learning, and reasoning skills as you age, reduce your risk of depression, and help you sleep better.
And just one exercise can bring immediate benefits, including reducing short-term feelings of anxiety.
The aquatic environment and the whole body involved in swimming offer several distinct advantages over other popular activities such as walking, running or cycling.
Researchers have explored the many ways that participation in different types of swimming affects the body. However, as with any physical activity, it is important to note that there are significant differences between levels of participation.
For example, lifelong swimmers may experience different health benefits than those who swim for pleasure a few times a month. Here are some health benefits of lifeguard certification near me.
Can improve body composition
Swimming and lifeguard helps reduce body fat. A small study published in the Journal of Physical Rehabilitation found that middle-aged women who swam regularly (60-minute sessions, three times a week for 12 weeks) showed an average reduction in body fat of about 3%, while a control group (women who never swam) showed no significant changes. Swimmers showed improvements in flexibility, cardiovascular endurance and increased blood lipid levels.
However, another study looked at changes in body composition in young women who participated in a 12-week swimming program. The study assigned 60 women aged 34 to 20 years to either a swimming group or a non-swimming group (sedentary lifestyle). The swimming group participated in three 12-minute sessions per week for 12 weeks.
At the end of the study, the researchers found that the swimming group experienced a reduction in waist circumference, but no significant changes in body composition compared to the non-swimming group.
Finally, in 2015, researchers assessed the mental, social and physical health of swimmers engaged in long training sessions. The study was conducted over four days of the French Masters Championship in 2011. All swimmers selected for the event were invited to participate in the study, but only 490 participated.
Data collected during the study showed that experienced swimmers in higher age groups had lower rates of obesity and used less medication compared to reference data from various sources.
Can lower blood pressure
Several studies have shown that swimming and lifeguard can help lower blood pressure. One study included women with mild hypertension. Researchers evaluated the effect of different swimming protocols on blood pressure.
For the study, 62 women were randomly assigned to participate in high-intensity swimming (a 30-second full effort of 6-10 repetitions with a 2-minute break), moderate swimming (one hour at moderate intensity) or a control group. . group (without training and lifestyle changes).
After 15 weeks, the researchers found no change in the control group. But both the high-intensity and moderate swimming groups saw a decrease in systolic blood pressure. Both groups reduced resting heart rate and body fat.
Several other studies have found an association between swimming for exercise and lower blood pressure, particularly in people with high blood pressure.
Reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injury
Physiologists suggest that many popular sports and leisure activities require some level of technique and involve hitting the ground, which can lead to bruises, bruises, broken bones and more serious injuries. This can make high injury risk a weak point for many traditional sports and activities.
Lower respiratory infections
If you enjoy swimming in cold weather, participating in this extreme sport can help you avoid upper respiratory infections and reap other health benefits.
Also referred to as “winter swimming” or “ice swimming”, the sport involves swimming in cold or icy water, usually below 5 °C (41 degrees Fahrenheit).
Scientists who published a 2020 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reviewed research related to ice swimming. They found that regular participation was associated with improved hematologic and endocrine function (including reduced blood pressure, reduced triglycerides, and improved insulin sensitivity), fewer upper respiratory infections, improved mood disorders, and improved overall well-being.
However, researchers note that only experienced swimmers in good health should practice this sport. “There is a risk of death in strangers from an early neurogenic cold shock response or from a progressive decline in swimming efficiency or hypothermia,” he says.
Benefits of swimming
Lifeguard certification near me swimming is one of the healthiest and safest types of sports. During swimming, the various joints in the body bear the minimum load, and the circulatory system exerts a continuous and moderate effort.
Effort while swimming properly may help:
- Promote heart health
One of the benefits of swimming is that it promotes heart health , because swimming requires effort, and this effort increases the heart rate, which increases blood flow to the body, and this is good for strengthening the heart muscle.
Swimming also contributes to reducing blood pressure and bringing it within the normal level , and this also promotes heart health.
- Improve the capacity of the lungs
The continuous swimming exercise, especially swimming that requires staying under water for a specific period, contributes greatly to improving the capacity of the lungs and their responses to the variables around them, and this improvement does not happen at once, but rather gradually.
This benefit is often especially useful for asthma patients , who have a great need to strengthen the lungs and increase their stamina.
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- Reducing back pain
Since the body loses weight with water, the pressure on the back will go away, so when swimming, people do not feel the back pain they were suffering from before.